ACCEPTANCE WITH JOY

One of my all-time favorite classics is Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard.

I discovered it years ago while traveling to speak in the mountains of North Carolina. I remember that afternoon, stopping at a secondhand bookstore located in the quaint little sleepy town where I was staying.

Intrigued by a collection of old books displayed on a side-table, I picked this one up and was immediately captivated by the summary on the back.

Excited about relaxing and unwinding, I paid for my treasure and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening carried away by the sweet simplicity that sent powerful messages to my heart about following my Savior.

Hinds Feet on High Places is a beautiful allegory highlighting the yearning that God places in the hearts of His children, drawing them to new heights of love, joy, and victory through their daily struggles and wins.

I spent the rest of that day cozied up with Much-Afraid, the little deformed shepherdess who longed more than anything to follow The Loving Shepherd to the High Places.

During her journey, The Shepherd guides her and gives her two companions to help her along the way – Sorrow and Suffering accompany Much-Afraid as she embarks, and eventually makes it to High Places where she is transformed by her union with the Loving Shepherd.

One of the encounters along the way to the High Places, particularly touched my heart, giving me a deeper connection with God’s nearness during times of suffering . . .

On the last morning she was walking near the tents and huts of the desert dwellers, when in a lonely corner behind a wall she came upon a little flower, growing all alone. An old pipe was connected with a water tank. In the pipe was one tiny hole through which came an occasional drop of water. Where the drops fell one by one, there grew the little flower, though where the seed had come from, Much-Afraid could not imagine, for there were no birds anywhere and no other growing things.

She stopped over the lonely lovely little face lifted up so hopefully and bravely to the feeble drip, and cried out softly,

 “What is your name, little flower, for I never saw one like you before. “

The tiny plant answered at once in a tone as golden as itself,

“Behold me! My name is Acceptance With Joy.”

As the story continued Much-Afraid reflected upon the struggles in her life and became more than ever determined to face each trial – no matter how difficult – with acceptance and joy, for The Loving Shepherd had allowed each one to mold her and shape her and to ultimately lead her step by step to the High Places.

. . . .

This morning, stepping outside to water my flowers and to pray over  struggles and trials that often fill my prayer language . . . my eyes caught a lone flower, growing in a place where it had not been planted.

What JOY overwhelmed me, as I once again thought about Much-Afraid and her encounter with the little flower. Her heart relinquished its struggles as she submitted completely to The Loving Shepherd. I remembered her words . . . 

He has brought me here when I did not want to come for His own purpose. I, too, will look up into his face and say, Behold me! I am thy little handmaiden Acceptance-with-Joy. 

“The Lord GOD is my strength – my source of courage, my invincible army – He has made my feet steady and sure like hinds’ feet - and makes me walk forward with spiritual confidence on my high places of challenge and responsibility. “

(Habakkuk 3:19 AMP)

Joyfully Accepting,

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